Show all images on one page	#008954 Title: Emelya and the Magic Pike Artist: Kapralova Galina Size: 16.5x16.5x21.5 Size (inches): 6.5x6.5x8.5 Price : $950 SOLD!

This original form half-sphere top casket shows the episodes from the popular Russian fairy-tale "By the Pike's Will" or "Emelya and the Magic Pike".
The casket was painted by a talented Kholui artist, Galina Kappralova.
In short, this tale is about a young man who finds a special fish when he goes to get water from the river. In return for releasing her, the Magic Pike offers to fulfill Emelia's wishes. Being a lazy fellow, Emelya light-heartedly uses magic forces, asking the pike to help him to perform his chores while he relaxes. He orders his water-pails to go home by itself, which they do, much to the surprise of his sisters-in-law. Then he orders the sledge to go by itself to the nearest forest where his ax falls wood for the fire. Afterwards he gets to the tsar's palace, riding a stove. In the palace he meets the tsar's daughter and falls in love with her. The tale ends happily and finally Emelya marries the tsar's daughter.
The scenes depicted on the box shows key episodes from this tale: Emelya has catch the Magic Pike by the backle while getting the water from a river; The axe is cutting the fire wood without Emelya; sister of Emelya or a village girl carrying the water on shoulder yoke; Magic Pike is talking to Emelya and asking him to let her go and pike will execute his wills.
The box is made out of paper-mache. Black lacquer covers the exterior and red lacquer covers the interior of the box. Chest has a lid/top of the box of original shape and a drawer.
The sides of the chest are decorated with pine branches and cones, painted in green and brown colors and gold paint. The box is hinged and rests on four small round legs. The box is signed with the title, Kholui, and the artist name at the bottom of the composition, which is painted on the back side.